Merchant Services Done Right

Merchant Services Done Right provides transparent payment processing solutions designed for business stability. The company offers guaranteed consistent rates, easy-to-read statements, and eliminates restrictive contracts or cancellation fees. It focuses on educating local businesses, equipping them with clear solutions to achieve significant savings and optimize their payment acceptance operations.

Founded in 2012 by Caleb Avery, Merchant Services Done Right arose from a clear understanding of prevalent complexities within the merchant services industry. Avery sought to create a more equitable service model, enabling businesses to process payments without hidden costs. His founding insight aimed to deliver transparency and consistency to clients previously underserved by opaque terms.

The company primarily serves local businesses seeking dependable and fair payment processing partnerships. Merchant Services Done Right’s mission is to continually enhance client experience by providing trusted solutions that uphold operational clarity and deliver measurable value. Its forward-looking vision centers on empowering businesses through integrity and straightforward service delivery.

High-Level Overview

Merchant Services Done Right is a payment processing company providing credit card merchant services, cash discount programs, POS systems, gift/loyalty cards, small business lending, and next-day funding to local businesses, retailers, restaurants, and high-risk merchants.[1][2][3] It serves small to medium-sized businesses seeking cost savings (20-30% on processing), transparency, no contracts, no rate increases, and exceptional support, solving pain points like high fees, hidden pricing, and poor service in the payments industry.[1][3][6] With 25 years in business and an A+ BBB rating, the company emphasizes education for "smiles, savings, and solutions," maintaining strong growth through client partnerships and value-added tools.[2][4]

Origin Story

Founded around 2000 (business started 9/7/2000, incorporated 12/5/2005 as a corporation, also known as Universal Card Inc.), the company emerged from founders' frustration with opaque merchant services practices.[2][4] In a YouTube interview, a leader (likely Julie Franke) shared starting it about 20 years ago with her husband, focusing on local businesses they knew personally, evolving from basic credit card processing to comprehensive solutions including high-risk accounts and startups.[4] Key figures include CEO Jason Moore, Manager James Minor, and General Manager Cory Roberts, based in Irvine, CA; BBB accreditation since 2001 underscores early credibility.[2] Pivotal growth came from transparent partnerships, niche expertise, and industry shifts like consolidations driving agents and clients to them.[4][5]

Core Differentiators

• Transparent Pricing and No Gotchas: No rate increases, no contracts, no hidden fees—ultra-competitive costs with full disclosure on revenue model, saving businesses 20-30% on processing and up to 95% via cash discount programs.[1][3][6]
• Customized Solutions for Diverse Needs: Tailored POS systems, gift/loyalty cards (free), next-day/same-day funding, ACH, invoicing, surcharge/dual pricing, and small business lending ($2K-$200K); supports niches like high-risk, restaurants, e-comm, gas stations, spas, and food trucks.[2][3][6]
• Personalized, Long-Term Support: Partners with clients for lifetime account growth, exceptional local agent support, education-focused approach, and white-glove service missing in commoditized industry—prioritizes startups, high-risk, and local businesses.[1][4][6]
• Proven Reliability: 25 years operating, A+ BBB accredited since 2001, free equipment, and rapid scalability (e.g., industry peers growing to $6B volume via agent recruitment).[2][5]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Merchant Services Done Right rides the wave of fintech democratization, where small businesses demand affordable, flexible payments amid rising e-commerce, contactless adoption, and fee pressures post-pandemic.[3][6] Timing aligns with market consolidation—large processors' acquisitions leave agents seeking independence, fueling their growth as a boutique alternative.[4][5] Favorable forces include regulatory scrutiny on hidden fees, demand for omnichannel POS (retail to food trucks), and value-adds like lending/MCAs amid tight credit; they influence the ecosystem by empowering underserved locals/high-risk merchants, reducing barriers to digital payments, and promoting transparent models that challenge utility-like incumbents.[2][4]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Next for Merchant Services Done Right: Expand agent networks and value-adds like AI-driven POS or integrated lending to capture more of the $6B+ processing volume peers are hitting, while deepening niches like e-comm and high-risk.[5][6] Trends like real-time payments, embedded finance, and surcharge normalization will shape them favorably, especially as inflation squeezes SMB margins. Their influence may evolve into a full-service growth partner, sustaining "smiles, savings, and solutions" by outpacing commoditized giants through trusted, local relationships—reinforcing why they define merchant services done right.[1][3]